bdawe wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 10:24 amMr. Dawe, I certainly defer to you regarding "anything Canada". After all, your'e a citizen, and I have not set foot on your side of the 49th since 1988.Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 10:03 am.......My understanding is that the Rocky Mountaineer originated more in the bowels of VIA Rail...Isn't what keeps Amtrak on the d&rgw is their general intercity rights transfered from the D&RGW when they joined Amtrak? And probably the fact that Union Pacific is happier to not have Amtrak mucking up their priority freight schedules on the Overland Route?
Obviously, CP decided that their scenically superior route (agree; ridden 'em both) had a price tag; and a private concern was willing to "outbid" one belonging to The Crown......By that same token, what keeps the Union Pacific from kicking Amtrak off the D&RGW (accommodating them on the Overland Route) and seeking a private operator willing to pay "a mite bit more" for the rights than Amtrak with their bargain basement remuneration?
I also am inclined to agree with your thought regarding the Zephyr's routing. Likely no private operator would be willing to pay for the interference to the Overland's operations, where trains essentially run on "headway", that would result from a Zephyr reroute (nevermind the advocacy community's howls).